Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin will have to argue for leniency at his sentencing hearing, rather than at an earlier, separate hearing as he had requested.

His attorney, Robert Jenkins, earlier this month asked U.S. District Judge Ginger Berrigan to take it easy on Nagin at sentencing. Jenkins argued in court papers that 20 years, the low end of a range recommended under federal guidelines, was too long for Nagin.

Jenkins requested a hearing in front of Berrigan so he could argue the point in person, but Berrigan declined in an order filed Monday morning (June 23). Jenkins will have a chance to make his case at the July 9th sentencing hearing, she said.

A jury convicted Nagin in February of 20 counts of public corruption, including charges bribery, money laundering, filing false tax returns and wire fraud.

Friends, family and admirers have asked Berrigan to go easy on Nagin, saying he was a staunch defender of the city in a time of crisis.